Becoming a certified field guide is often seen as a dream job—immersed in the wild, leading guests through unforgettable encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife, and spending every day surrounded by nature’s untamed beauty. Yet, many don’t realize that earning a field guide qualification is much more than a passport to life on safari and in the bush; it’s a gateway to many diverse and fulfilling careers.
Sleeping under the stars for a couple of nights, carrying everything you need on your back, immersing yourself with nature without any interruptions: A primitive trail is not only a big adventure but also the perfect opportunity to experience the bush on a deeper level. But what about water, food and basic hygiene? We answer all your questions.
EcoTraining’s Professional Field Guide course trains students to learn about the natural ecosystem and wildlife while getting hands-on experience in the bush to become remarkable Field Guides. EcoTraining provides a one-of-a-kind year-long field guide course that is certified and offers industry-level skills & mastery.
South Africa’s stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity make it a top destination for wildlife encounters. Its iconic Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes—were once considered challenging animals to track; now, they symbolize wildlife conservation and tourism. Let’s explore these magnificent creatures and the best places to see them in the wild.
The days in a Field Guiding Course can be long, filled with so many new things to learn. Andrea discusses the schedule during her course, the 35-day practical with EcoTraining in Pridelands. She describes the daily tasks that students encounter and provides an overview of a typical day.
International Zebra Day, 31 January 2025, raises awareness of these striped mammals. From the widespread plains zebra to the endangered Grevy’s zebra and the vulnerable mountain zebra, learn about the different species and subspecies of zebra and the conservation strategies in place to protect them.
During an EcoTraining Field Guide Course, you learn about everything related to nature, conservation, animals and guides. A big part of the knowledge you acquire is about trees. When it came to trees, many of my fellow students and I did not overflow with joy during my 35-day practical with EcoTraining. However, our perspective soon changed once we studied them closely.
The romance of the bush often has people wanting to embark on a journey into a new career, whether it be as a Game Ranger or as a Safari/Field Guide.
The draw of the bush, the lure of the wilderness and the excitement of adventure bring people to Africa and the bush from all walks of life.
When I think about summer, the text line “Summertime and the Living is Easy” from Ella Fitzgerald immediately pops up in my head. We all know the feeling a beautiful summer can give us: long sunny days, a relaxing vacation, good vibes, food, and music. You might get it already, a summer in the African bush looks a little bit different. Nevertheless, it is extraordinary and challenging in many ways.
The early morning sun peeks over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the African savanna. As I sip my coffee, I feel a mix of excitement and anticipation for the adventure that lies ahead. Today, I will experience the magic of a safari in South Africa—a journey that promises to be unforgettable.
Conservationists have been working for decades to find ways to keep these gigantic landscape architects safe. Elephants communicate with each other using sounds, including sounds with very low frequencies (infrasound). Elephants are so intelligent that scientists are confident they will find ways to communicate effectively with these animals in time. Infrasound is a promising way to do this.
Wildlife encounters. They make the most of all safari conversations. On an EcoTraining practical course, animal encounters are part of everyday life. But once you’ve spent that intensive time in the bush, learning so deeply about it all, you’ll never look at your animal encounters the same way. Moreover, you’ll value the small ones just as much as your spectacular meetings. In this story, Belgian graduate Wim lists four of the most interesting encounters in his course and how all-important situational awareness played a crucial part in them.
Study wildlife conservation and accredited field guide courses at any of our pioneering African training camps, around Africa.
Located on the banks of the Mara river,
the camp is nestled between communities
and wildlife conservancies.
Explore the untamed wilderness of Kruger
National Park’s Makuleke Concession
with EcoTraining.
Located at the confluence of the Limpopo
and Shashe Rivers, in the eastern
corner of Botswana.
A natural wonderland with free-roaming
elephants located in the Limpopo
Province of South Africa.
A sanctuary for wildlife, providing visitors
an opportunity to witness Africa’s
animals in their natural habitat.
A unique safari destination that offers
visitors an immersive and unforgettable
experience.
Want to become a field or nature guide? Explore our immersive courses and training programmes for professional safari guides and guardians of nature, taught and led by experts in the industry.
EcoTraining offers career and accredited courses, wildlife enthusiast courses, gap year programmes and customised group travel courses.
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